Arizona Cardinals Hire First NFL Female Coach

Photo Credit: twitter.com/NFL

The Arizona Cardinals have officially made history! As of today, the Cardinals have hired a new coach for their team. Normally, this would be big news in general but it’s even bigger news for a different reason. The Cardinals new training camp coach is a woman named Jen Welter. Welter is assumed to be the first female to have any coaching position in the NFL.

Welter is a former football player who played for multiple women’s semi-pro leagues including the Dallas Diamonds. Welter’s position was a running back and she coached linebackers and special teams for the Texas Revolution, an indoor football league. The title of her position is “assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason to work with inside linebackers” according to ESPN. While this does not guarantee a job during the regular season, Welter’s hiring is certainly opening the door for other females to pursue coaching positions in the future.

Welter’s hiring could be seen as a surprise to most people, but certainly not to head coach, Bruce Arians. In Arian’s two-year career, he has brought a refreshing and surprisingly progressive attitude. During a press conference in April, Arians was asked about the possibility of the NFL having female coaches. Arians responded perfectly, “The minute they can prove they can make a player better, they’ll be hired”. Clearly, Welter had enough talent to impress Arians and show that she would make the team better.

It is unclear on whether Welter’s position will carry over into the regular season. Welter took to twitter when it was announced,

I'm honored to be part of the #BIRDGANG! Love the #footballfamily here with the #ArizonaCardinals #NFL… http://t.co/vPdmyKH2hi

— Dr. Jen Welter (@jwelter47) July 28, 2015

Welter’s excitement is also shared by Arians who commented on her hiring, “She came for an OTA and I met her, and I thought she was the type of person that could handle this in a very positive way for women and open that door”. Arian’s comments show a future for women to finally be able to break down boundaries in the NFL.

Welter’s hiring marks a second victory for women within the NFL after the hiring of the first female official, Sarah Thomas earlier this year. I think I speak for all female NFL fans when I say that, it’s about time that women start to get some recognition in the NFL and it’s an exciting start for what is hopefully a successful future.